Who do I contact about buying our own health insurance?

[Holly_Hobby]

My husband is retiring next month and insurance through his company is nearly $1,000/month after retirement. It's great insurance, but I don't want to spend that much on it if I don't have to.

Does anyone here know who I contact to find out how much private insurance costs? I have no idea where to start. My husband is obese with high blood pressure, so he's high risk. We don't want a policy with a $5,000 deductible.

Thanks in advance!

[rosesaylavee]

1. I found a broker when I contacted Blue Cross

I was given three names with phone numbers. The broker I ended up suggested not using Blue Cross but another company that would save us money and wouldn't raise our rates after 6 months as they are wont to do.

Best of luck in your search!

[NYC_SKP]

2. It's not as easy as it once was...

Twenty years ago there were actual offices in town with real people sitting behind desks.

In the late 80's I remember going in to buy a monthly plan for around $75 since I was between jobs.

More recently I looked into it and it's all online.

Do try your very best to find an actual person, a real agent, in your state.

It might take some doing but I think it will be worth it.

good luck.

[steve2470]

3. I found my Aetna coverage through this link

http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/

YMMW and caveat emptor, etc. Good luck !

[Cleita]

4. $1,000 at his age with pre-existing conditions is

probably the best you will do. Otherwise you won't find anything for the same price that doesn't have a large deductible. However, if you want to shop around, there are websites like Esurance http://www.esurance.com/health-insurance where you can compare insurance, what it costs and what it covers in your area, before you make a decision. If he is turning 65 when he retires, then he qualifies for Medicare. Then getting a medi-gap policy isn't that expensive.

[cbdo2007]

5. There is no way you're going to find less than $1,000/month for a comparable plan.

Feel free to shop around, but just don't say "No thanks" to the other plan until you've seen some comparable plans out there. You wouldn't want to burn that bridge.

[MineralMan]

6. Be cautious and act slowly.

It's very likely that your husband may not be able to get a different policy, given his age and pre-existing conditions. You don't say what his age is, but my wife, who is 55, pays almost $1000/per month just for her insurance, and couldn't qualify for any other policy. She only has this one because she has maintained in in force.

If your husband is nearing 65 years of age, he will soon be eligible for Medicare and a supplement, which will reduce your costs considerably. At that point, you can find your own policy, if you're not the same age as he is.

It's a delicate balance, really. Make some calls, and try to find a less expensive policy, but be prepared to have to stick with the one you have. It may be your only option.

[livetohike]

7. My husband and I are self insured since 2007. We were on

COBRA for one year after he left his job and we moved back to PA. COBRA was very expensive! Then I started looking for our own health insurance coverage.

The websites mentioned are what I used, or just google "health insurance (your state)". We ended up going with Highmark PPO Blue. There was a lengthy application on line and we had to wait for approval. We were 53 and 55 years old when we applied. We had to go back 5 years for the health history section.

Good luck! It pays to shop around. Our monthly cost is $400 less than we were paying for the COBRA coverage.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Depending on your ages, the $1000/mon. offer might be the best you can get. Contact any independent

insurance agent for comparing policies. Look for their logo in the yellow pages.

[Holly_Hobby]

9. Thanks to everyone that replied

You gave me good leads, we have until 1/1/12 to decide. That's when it goes up to $1,000/month.

[EC]

10. Insurance offices

but you've likely got the best deal now if you're over 45, especially since there are pre-existing conditions. I priced them awhile back and I have no pre-existing (except a nasal infection years before) the cheapest I could find was over $1000. with a $10,000. deductable and coverage at 80%. I was 54 at the time. I passed deciding to take may chances for BadgerCare, which I eventually got.